Latest Interviews
Showing 106–120 of 251 interview transcripts.
Clear all filters- The Economist8 min
Why are so many Chinese bosses disappearing?
Don Weinland, Rosie Blau, Rosie Bloor
China's "Liu Zhi" extra-judicial detention system, which allows the anti-corruption agency to hold individuals without court oversight for renewable eight-month cycles, has expanded from government officials to include private sector leaders. This mechanism has contributed to a projected record of one million corruption cases by 2024, with local authorities increasingly conducting cross-border "deep sea fishing" operations to seize assets from business networks connected to high-ranking probes. The resulting economic pressure has degraded business sentiment, added 200,000 individuals to credit blacklists, and triggered five high-profile suicides among entrepreneurs despite official efforts to signal private sector support.
- The Economist8 min
Why is Saudi Arabia buying up the video game industry?
Led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, a consortium is acquiring Electronic Arts for $55 billion while deploying a $38 billion Savvy Games portfolio to dominate the global gaming sector. This strategy targets the 330 million Arabic-speaking demographic and diversifies the Kingdom's oil-dependent economy by creating 39,000 jobs and leveraging competitive gaming for soft power. Although immediate content changes to existing Western franchises remain uncertain, the initiative integrates local cultural narratives and sports assets to eventually establish a distinct "Saudi accent" in international game development.
- The Economist13 min
Has science finally cracked the secret to invisibility?
Alok Jha, Professor Sir John Pendry, John Pendry
Physics professor John Pendry introduced metamaterials as geometrically engineered structures capable of manipulating light paths to achieve the effects described in his "invisibility cloak" concept. This theoretical framework, initially named by Pendry's wife to aid a 2005 DARPA presentation, faced early skepticism before David Smith's team at Duke University successfully constructed a functional prototype for radar waves. The field has since evolved from resolving debates over negative refraction to experimental recreations of conditions existing near black holes.
- The Economist7 min
Mark Carney on dealing with Donald Trump
Mark Carney, Donald Trump, Zanny Minton Beddoes, Prime Minister Carney, Sani
Prime Minister Carney attributes Canada's recent economic stagnation to persistent tariff uncertainty while characterizing U.S. trade policy as a coercive "mafioso" strategy driven by President Trump. In response to this geopolitical rupture, Ottawa is pivoting toward strategic sovereignty by bolstering Arctic defense and cultivating a "variable geometry" of trade alliances to reduce reliance on the American market. This dual approach acknowledges a permanent shift toward high-tariff U.S. protectionism, compelling Canada to prioritize self-sufficiency and diversify global partnerships beyond traditional transatlantic frameworks.
- The Economist9 min
How Donald Trump made the Gaza talks happen
Donald Trump, Jason Palmer, Anshel Pfeffer
Amid unprecedented war fatigue, the Trump administration has deployed a high-level delegation led by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Sharm El Sheikh to drive an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The proposed Phase 1 plan mandates a full halt to hostilities, a partial Israeli withdrawal, and a reciprocal exchange of 48 Israeli hostages for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners to prevent famine and release military reservists. While long-term governance details regarding disarmament and international security forces remain deferred, the U.S. is aggressively enforcing this framework to bypass previous diplomatic failures and secure a permanent end to the conflict.
- The Economist11 min
Has Mars revealed a new clue about life on its surface?
Dr Katie Stack Morgan, Alok Jha
NASA's Perseverance rover recently identified distinct mineral patterns in Mars' "Chiava Falls" outcrop that the science team voted to classify as potential biosignatures, marking the closest any agency has come to detecting ancient life. While these findings strongly suggest a biological origin due to their specific chemical arrangement, the rover's limitations require the samples to be returned to Earth for definitive analysis. This critical next step relies on the Mars Sample Return program, which currently faces budgetary uncertainty even as scientists describe the discovery as a historic scientific milestone.
- The Economist9 min
Will President Trump’s Gaza peace plan work?
Trump, Gregg Carlstrom, Rosie Blau, Rosie Bloor
Donald Trump unveiled a comprehensive 20-point plan for Gaza that mandates Hamas to release all hostages and disarm in exchange for an international peacekeeping force and a Board of Peace co-led by the former president. While the proposal includes immediate humanitarian aid and a long-term governance framework, it faces significant friction due to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's opposition to Palestinian Authority involvement and divergent views on establishing a Palestinian state. The initiative places direct pressure on both Hamas to accept terms before facing potential unilateral action by Israel and on the Israeli government to adhere to the stipulated governance structure despite internal disagreements.
- The Economist8 min
How much protein do you really need?
A recent discussion detailed the physiological role of proteins as primary structural materials while analyzing dietary guidelines that range from the World Health Organization's 0.8 grams per kilogram recommendation to sports science suggestions of up to 1.6 grams per kilogram. The presentation highlighted that excessive protein intake above this threshold offers no additional muscle growth benefits and may pose kidney risks, particularly when derived from saturated fats and processed meats. Instead of prioritizing extreme dietary calculations, experts advised combining consistent strength training with enjoyable exercise routines to ensure long-term health and muscle maintenance.
- The Economist10 min
Are British spies ready for future global threats?
Rosie Blau, Shashank Joshi, Rosie Bloor
Outgoing MI6 Chief Richard Moore has identified China as the primary global security threat, directing the agency's expanding mandate toward countering Russian sabotage and Iranian nuclear proliferation alongside emerging technological risks. On October 1st, Blaise Matuloli assumes leadership as the service's youngest and first post-Cold War chief, leveraging her operational background in counter-subversion to navigate a complex landscape where traditional agent recruitment is increasingly hindered by digital surveillance. Facing a finite budget against limitless strategic demands, Matuloli must balance covert intelligence collection with active disruption operations while integrating human and technical capabilities through the newly formalized National Cyber Force.
- The Economist11 min
Can AI supercharge global economic growth?
This analysis contrasts historical economic growth rates of less than 3% annually with Silicon Valley's theoretical projections of 20–30% expansion driven by universal AI task automation. The discussion evaluates the feasibility of these outcomes by weighing technical and regulatory bottlenecks against labor market shifts, capital allocation dynamics, and the divergence between soaring equity valuations and subdued long-term interest rates. Unlike the internet era, which primarily delivered consumer value without immediate GDP acceleration, AI's potential to accelerate knowledge creation and robotics could uniquely reshape long-term living standards if infrastructure constraints are overcome.
- The Economist6 min
Has China become cool?
China's Communist Party is capitalizing on a global sentiment shift driven by technological innovation and pop culture, exemplified by YouTube streamer iShowSpeed's viral two-week visit that showcased high-speed rail and advanced robotics to millions of Western viewers. By pivoting from traditional state propaganda to embracing unscripted creator content, officials aim to rebrand the nation as a modern, "cool" destination while leveraging this soft power for geopolitical gain. Despite the optimistic framing of these organic interactions, Beijing remains cautiously skeptical about whether this renewed cultural appeal will effectively translate into tangible political influence or business advantages.
- The Economist10 min
Can Vietnam be the new Singapore?
Facing a 46% tariff threat from the Trump administration, Vietnam's leadership under General Secretary To Lam is accelerating a radical bureaucratic overhaul to shift its economy from risk-averse state control toward a private-sector-driven model targeting 70% GDP contribution by 2045. This strategic pivot aims to mitigate eroding labor cost advantages and supply chain gaps by encouraging innovation and demanding greater local integration from foreign investors, though challenges regarding an underdeveloped domestic market persist. Recent inconclusive trade talks highlight the urgent need for these structural reforms as the nation navigates the dual pressures of external geopolitical hostility and internal industrial stagnation.
- The Economist11 min
Will AI take Apple’s crown?
Apple's WWDC showcased a major "liquid glass" visual overhaul for iOS while exposing strategic vulnerabilities in its "Apple Intelligence" rollout, which has missed promised feature deadlines and lags behind competitors like Google. The company also faces significant legal and operational challenges, including a court injunction restricting developer communication that threatens its App Store revenue and a supply chain heavily dependent on China. Despite high consumer retention in the premium market, these factors combine with a shifting AI landscape to create uncertainty for Tim Cook's leadership and the long-term valuation of Apple's hardware ecosystem.
- The Economist8 min
Why does Trump admire Saudi Arabia?
Trump, Rachana Shanbhogue, Jason
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has steered Saudi Arabia toward a foreign policy of regional stabilization and ambitious domestic social liberalization to secure the political foundation for his economic transformation agenda. While the kingdom has rapidly dismantled religious restrictions and positioned itself as a mediator in global conflicts, its effort to diversify away from oil through massive giga projects like Neom faces significant hurdles due to stubborn reliance on energy revenues and fiscal strain. Consequently, the regime's long-term stability remains precarious, hinging on its ability to successfully deliver economic prosperity to a young population while managing the risks of potential dissent and investor skepticism.
- The Economist7 min
Is Putin‘s narrative working?
Marked by the arrival of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russia's 80th Victory Day parade transformed the 1945 Allied triumph into an isolated, state-orchestrated ritual that explicitly excludes Western allies. Vladimir Putin leverages this historical narrative to forge a continuous "cult of victory" that legitimizes his rule and the ongoing war in Ukraine as a reenactment of Soviet-era greatness. The event underscores Russia's geopolitical severance from the West, replacing the original concept of a shared liberation with a dependency on non-Western alliances and a focus on great power status rather than territorial expansion.